Most hikers hook up with other people when they go out for a walk. But some prefer to go it alone and head out to the hills in search of solace and solitude. I fall somewhere between the two. I usually hit the hiking trails with my family or friends but every so often I like to stride out on my own. Going solo is great for exercise as you can go at your own pace; it’s also great for covering long distances as you don’t have to stop while group members rest, take photos or change layers. You’re your own man; you can go where you want, when you want.

However, long distance walking alone can be a lonely experience. Without a companion to talk to or share experiences with, you really do feel the sensation of isolation. A lot of people enjoy this freedom and independence, which is why they go it alone in the first place. I too like the solitude of a going solo sometimes. But sometimes I need something to fill the vacuum left by the absence of a hiking companion.

Just recently I’ve taken to carrying an MP3 player on the trail with me. Not only does it fill the void of loneliness, it creates an interesting soundtrack to a walk. Instead of quashing the sensations of back-country walking, good music seems to awaken the senses. I actually seem to notice more with music pumping in my ears – it’s as if the trees, birds, cows, clouds and grass are playing along with the tunes or participating in a live music video. Of course, the choice of music can make or break the atmosphere of a walk but for combating loneliness music is a great tool.

Is there no end to the different types of gear and gizmos you can take camping nowadays? Just a quick search for tent equipment on Google returns a list of thousand of websites full of different items designed to make camping more comfortable and enjoyable.

There are the standard and essential: sleeping bags, camping stoves, roll mats, lanterns, torches etc. Then there are the unimportant but useful: camping toilets, folding chairs, camping tables, cool boxes etc. Then there are the exotic and downright weird: fold-up wardrobes, dried meals, hammocks, wind-up radios and tent wall art!

There’s one thing for sure – there’s no shortage of things for us campers to spend our hard earned money on. The manufacturers have made sure of this. Camping used to be about getting back to nature. It’s not any more. It’s become as commercialised as just about everything else in the modern world. It’s a shame but at least we’ll never run out of ideas for Christmas presents for our camping friends.

I’ve recently moved house. I count myself as one of the lucky ones who managed to sell up before the whole mortgage market went nuts. In any case, I moved down the road from my last place. Our new place was a bit of a bargain as it was a run-down bungalow that needed a bit of work done on it and a large, overgrown garden. I call it a garden, when in fact the word jungle is probably more apt. The house and grounds have been uninhabited for four years prior to our purchase so the garden has gone slightly wild. When we first looked round, it needed a machete to get round the whole place. It turns out we have some wonderful trees and plants growing; elm, ash, yew, eucalyptus, firs, hazels…the list goes on. So where do we start in clearing it back?

The first step was to buy a pair of hunter wellingtons each. The wellies have been worth their weight in gold as my legs would have been scratched to ribbons from all the brambles if I hadn’t had them. I never knew how essential a pair of wellingtons would be as I’ve always been a bit of a welly snob and refused to buy them, preferring my waterproof hiking boots. But, with the sheer amount of mud, brambles and anything else my garden has to throw at me, waterproof hiking boots would not have been the best choice and the wellingtons have proved indispensable. The jungle is still out there, but in a couple of weeks it will look a whole lot better with the help of a landscaper and tree surgeon who will no doubt turn up in willies rather than waterproof hiking boots.